Anxiety as an excuse

[Nelly5678]

Don't get me wrong! I know some people genuinely have anxiety issues, but is it just me or has suddenly in the past year everyone "has an anxiety disorder" the second they feel nervous over the slightest thing??? It's really starting to annoy me how people blame eveything on their anxiety, when all I wanna do is scream at them that they don't have anxiety!!! I can't be the only one...?

I have anxiety, depression and OCD. I am a normal 21 year old. Often in the public eye. Nobody would suspect a thing by knowing me. Not a soul. You know know what other people are going through op.

Sorry that was supposed to be 'you don't know what other people are going through'.

@CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger

when actually what they are experiencing is a perfectly normal reaction to situations and events - actual anxiety/panic is an abnormal reaction to what to everyone else can seem like absolutely nothing and is utterly debilitating.

Or I'd say an over the top reaction to something that should probably only cause mild worry. My anxiety latches on to whatever - could be something unreasonable, could be something reasonable to be concerned about but not something to keep you up at night.

I finally went to my GP because I had been in a state of panic for weeks about the fact the roof might leak. Might leak. It didn't have a leak, there was no real reason to think it might start leaking, but it was keeping me awake at night and I was panicking about it. While I can see it's normal to check the condition of your roof in the winter and you may have concerns that cause worry, my reaction was clearly over the top.

The funny thing was we did then have a leak. That was a lot easier to cope with than the worry of a leak, so I worried about the people who fixed it instead (possible axe murderers, burglars checking out what we had etc.).

Dd has just come home from school....again

Missing her favourite lessons, just sits in the nurses office crying

Do we not all experience some anxiety? Particularly in difficult situations?

I get what you are saying op.

I suffer from anxiety, mainly re my health and sometimes this can be crippling, absolutely horrendous that I barely function.

However I can go months with being fine. However during my months where I'm fine it doesn't stop me worrying about normal stuff people worry about like how to get to work on time or an exam or how my ds is doing at school etc etc. I would say I get anxious but not to an extreme level, just normal during these periods.

Does this mean I have an anxiety disorder? Possibly but I don't bleat about it or out memes on Facebook hinting I may have the condition.

I think the thing is it's like most things.,.there is more awareness these days so people can jump on the bandwagon. Whereas years ago you probably didn't talk about it.

I know what you mean.

It's like when people say "I'm so depressed" after just having a blue day.

Or people who laugh about being bipolar just because they have a moodswing (which is more borderline than bipolar anyway)

Or "I'm so OCD" just because of one small quirk.

And yes, I'm sure there are those who do it with anxiety too.

It minimises.

This thread is pissing me off: people wouldn’t make these judgments about physical health conditions.

Eg people with arthritis or diabetes “jumping on the bandwagon”!

Also, OP hasn’t been back: goady fuckery.

MrsDV. That's well there are no words to describe it that wouldnt be a colossal understatement.
I'm so sorry for your loss.

Those of you getting pissy about the OP, how do you genuinely feel when someone you know says they ‘have anxiety’ when you know they don’t?

How would I know that they don't? I only know what I see and that's often not an indication of what is going on behind the scenes. If they say they have then I assume that they have.

brizzle

Same here

I have two friends in particular that i thought were very happy people, always perky and cheerful

They are...but mainly due to the anti depressants they are on. I was social friends with them for years before they told me

@BrizzleDrizzle how do I know? Because some people I know very well? Because I’m not so naive that I don’t realise people exaggerate conditions sometimes?

I posted earlier on the thread that it’s only on MN is any and all behaviour excused because we can’t possibly know everything going on in a person’s life. While that’s true, I happen to believe that most of the time the simplest answer is the right one.

@TartanTroosers

OP. I’m with you. Everyone’s anxious. The world. Politics. Kids. Job. Lack of job. Elderly parents. Partner. Lack of. Kids. Lack of. It’s a human condition. Get on with it. But that won’t win the popular vote on here.

But you’ll get a ton of abuse ‘cause people do love their anxiety labels.

There are some truly nasty fuckers on here.

I think the thing is it's like most things.,.there is more awareness these days so people can jump on the bandwagon. Whereas years ago you probably didn't talk about it.

Or maybe there's more awareness and people are no longer shamed about it?

olive

I missed that one...you are right , although probably not nasty , maybe stupid pig ignorant fuckers

I see your point OP but I think with the growth of social media and online channels, ideally suited to folks with certain types of anxiety and introverts, maybe people are just opening up more about what they may have gone through for years? Or realise there might be a health reason for their reactions to certain things? I have only been diagnosed with anxiety related stress once and medicated but I regularly vomit or pass out if I have to attend social events like weddings etc. I assume I have some kind of social anxiety but I don't proclaim it or use it as some kind of badge as it's personal and hasn't been diagnosed by a doctor. I might choose not to attend something because of it though.

I totally see where you are coming from OP.

I once joined a FB group thinking it was a budgeting type one. It wasn't. It was how to avoid paying any and all debts. Every single person on there had 'anxiety' and just couldn't pay for anything because 'anxiety'. They could buy up, because 'anxiety', just couldn't pay and didn't think they should because 'anxiety'
Lots of "aw, hun" s and "oh sweetie, you don't have to pay, you're 'vulnerable'"
Really opened my eyes to the way 'anxiety' can be used as an excuse.

I don't mean to be rude but you come across as extremely judgmental. I'm assuming you're not a mental health professional so I don't think you have any basis on which to form your judgments about people.

I used to be a relatively happy go lucky person until my daughter's birth triggered health anxiety and I cannot tell you how it's opened my eyes to people with mental health problems.

I think it's because of attitudes like yours that many people are really reluctant to seek help.

I really hope for your sake that you never develop anxiety. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.!

@oliveinacampervan I second that (with bells on).